Join the CA Community - afloat & ashore

Check out the Sections below to find a Cruising Association group near you, check out the events they’re running and find their contact details.

'Cruising Sections’ cover sea areas whilst ‘Local Sections’ are UK-based. There’s also an Antipodean Section for members ‘down under’ and a Motorboat Section for those cruising in motorboats.

When you join consider signing up to at least two Sections, one near home and another where you want to cruise. You can join as many Sections as you like – it’s FREE - and there are opportunities to get involved in events and discussions most relevant to you and your cruising.

Cruising Sections use dedicated online forums to exchange information. As a CA member you can access any forum at any time, whether you’re a Section member or not. You can even set up automatic forwarding of posts from any forum and the ‘cruising mode’ helps you control receipt of emails when airtime might be expensive or bandwidths restricted.

Cruising Sections

Baltic

Covers the Baltic Sea, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Faroes. Holds a popular introductory seminar every spring.

Biscay

Covers Western France, Spain and Portugal as well as crossing Biscay. Holds a popular introductory seminar every spring.

Blue Water

For those sailing outside of European waters. Holds a popular Blue Water seminar in the summer.

Celtic

Covers waters from Land’s End to Cape Wrath. Meets at various west coast venues to share knowledge on all aspects of cruising the region.

Channel

For those cruising the south coast of the UK, Channel Islands, and France from the Belgian border to NW Brittany. Holds an annual seminar and summer rally/cruise-in-company.

European Inland Waterways

Covers over 30,000 km of navigable rivers and canals passing through over 20 countries. Annual seminar and lunch each autumn at CA House.

Mediterranean

Covers the Mediterranean from Spain and Morocco in the west to the Levant in the east, and includes the Black Sea. Meets at CA House in the winter, and afloat in the summer.

Motorboat

The Motorboat Section aims to bring together motorboaters where ever they are and whatever type of motorboating they enjoy.

North Sea

Covers the UK, Belgian and Dutch coasts. Meets at East Coast venues to share knowledge on all aspects of cruising the region.

Local / UK Sections

Antipodean

For members who live in Australia and New Zealand and who sail in the Northern Hemisphere.

CA London

CA London events are held at our Limehouse HQ.

Essex

Meetings held at Blackwater Sailing Club and mid-week lunches arranged.

Kent

Kent Section's 'Winter Warmers', talks by a variety of speakers, will be held via Zoom for the forseeable future.

Solent

Summer rallies with weekend meets. Winter talks with ‘club’ suppers usually at a Hamble yacht club or marina.

South West

For members living in or cruising the areas from Portland Bill to the Isles of Scilly and along the north coast of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset to Bristol.

Suffolk

Joint meetings are arranged with the Royal Harwich Yacht Club at Woolverstone.

Thames Valley

Winter talks are held in partnership with the Gerrards Cross Sailing Association (GXSA) at Colston Hall at The Memorial Centre in Gerrards Cross.

Wessex

Talks are held at Lilliput Sailing Club, Poole.

Forthcoming Section Events

Non-members are welcome to attend

Reflections on a Circumnavigation of Britain
Date: 18/02/2025

"Is a little knowledge a dangerous thing?" Jill Rogers will reflect on her 2019 circumnavigation of the Britain, in her 25ft yacht. Jill set off from Gosport in May 2019 after only four single-handed...

River Orwell's Historic Houses and Gardens by Keith Pettican
Date: 27/02/2025

Many rich and famous people built large houses overlooking the River Orwell; we sail past their estates without knowing their stories. Keith Pettican now lives in one of these houses and he will tell...

Mission: Out Stack (the full stop at the end of Britain) - Webinar
Date: 27/02/2025

Simon and Fiona Hampton-Mathews recount a tale of a loop around the top of Scotland with the ship's cat, wildlife in unexpected places, an unintended extensive exploration of Stromness and a broken...

European Inland Waterways Section Seminar
Date: 01/03/2025

The EIWS spring seminar is a thoroughly enjoyable occasion to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, especially those who have joined the section recently. A series of talks will inform members...

Shipwrecks in the Thames by Rob Smith
Date: 13/03/2025

Our final talk of the Winter Warmer season is on Thursday 13th March 2025 is by Rob Smith. With so many ships visiting London, it is hardly surprising that there have been thousands of shipwrecks in...

Yachting on the East Coast by Anne Plummer and Photo Competition Judging
Date: 15/03/2025

Anne lives on sailing yacht Midday Sun with husband Marc and is a professional artist. She will talk about yachting on our wonderful East Coast. Photographic Competition: Attendees will also have...

RNLI Water Safety Talk
Date: 18/03/2025

A talk on safety at sea. Chris will cover life jackets, calling for help and what to expect if you need lifeboat help. Chris has been a RNLI Volunteer for over 20 years at Pool lifeboat station....

The Inside Passage from Vancouver to Alaska
Date: 20/03/2025

Dennis and Janet will talk their trip up the inside passage from Vancouver to Alaska in May & June in 2002 in thier Oyster435 “Shilling”. Together with our usual supper this is a very sociable...

Suffolk Winter Talk - Speaker TBA
Date: 27/03/2025

Two possible speakers have been approached but neither has confirmed yet. Date and Time: Thursday 27th March 2025, Doors open at 11:00, Talk at 11:30, Lunch at 13:00. Venue: Royal Harwich Yacht...

The Western Isles and the Firth of Clyde, from the Viking age to 1300: Frances Bickerstaff - Webinar
Date: 27/03/2025

The history of the Western Isles is fascinating but complex – rarely taught in schools and often a mystery even to Scots. The Vikings travelled (marauded!) and settled extensively across Celtic...

Join our cruising community and join in the fun

Join us